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Chase Sapphire Reserve^® vs. The Platinum Card^® from American Express: Chase Is Better For Most

There isn't a clear winner when comparing the Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Platinum Card — it all comes down to your spending habits and travel preferences.

By Ben Luthi
and Harrison Pierce

Edited by Alicia Hahn

Updated June 24, 2025

5.0

Up to $300 in annual travel credits
Great rewards on travel purchases and dining
Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
Comprehensive travel protections, including trip delay and cancellation insurance
Points are worth up to 2x on select hotels and flights when booking through Chase Travel

4.9

Enjoy hundreds of dollars in annual credits (enrollment required for select benefits)
Gain access to exclusive airport lounges worldwide (enrollment required)
Elevate your hotel stays with elite status perks (enrollment required)
Earn valuable Membership Rewards points on flights and hotels
Protect your trips with top-notch travel insurance

Our view

The Platinum Card^® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®(Rates and fees) are excellent options for anyone looking to upgrade their travel experience. Both cards target travelers who enjoy luxury perks, and they have similar annual fees.

If you're looking for simplicity and a higher earning potential, the Sapphire Reserve has the edge. However, go for The Platinum Card if you're focused on luxury benefits like wide-ranging airport lounge access, elite status with hotels, and a coupon book of statement credits.

How we evaluate products

Both the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® and The Platinum Card^® from American Express give cardholders luxury benefits in exchange for hefty annual fees. Here's how they stack up.

	Chase Sapphire Reserve 5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Amex Platinum 4.9 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
FinanceBuzz value calculation¹ <p class="">These values are based on the <a href="https://financebuzz.com/financebuzz-credit-card-valuation">FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model</a>, which takes a look at rewards earned via spending, the welcome offer, and the annual fee. We used a valuation of 1 cent/point unless otherwise stated above. These are estimated values - your actual earnings will depend on how much you spend and in what categories.<br></p>	Year one: $3,758 Year two: $1,758	Year one: $3,170 Year two: $1,420
Annual Fee	$795	$695
Welcome offer	Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	Earn as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 6 months (welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer; apply and find out your offer)
Earning rate	8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠ (including The Edit℠), 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct, 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases	5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases
Statement credits	$300 annual travel credit Application fee reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables. Up to $250 in statement credits from January-June and again from July-December for prepaid bookings with The Edit. Two-night minimum required. Purchases that qualify will not earn points.	Up to $200 annually in hotel credits Up to $240 annually in digital entertainment credits Up to $155 annually in Walmart+ credits Up to $200 annually in Uber Cash Up to $200 annually in airline fee credits Up to $100 annually in Saks Fifth Avenue credits Up to $199 annually in a CLEAR® Plus membership credits Application fee reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Up to $300 annually in statement credits for an Equinox digital or club membership
Travel benefits	Access to Priority Pass Lounges and Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club Points could be worth up to 2x more value when booking eligible travel through Chase Travel VIP amenities with Avis, Hertz, National, and Audi on Demand	Access to The Global Lounge Selection (for eligible Card Members) Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status Hilton Honors Gold status Car rental privileges with Avis, Hertz, and National Enrollment required for select benefits
Foreign transaction fee	None	None
Credit needed	Excellent	Excellent, Good
	Apply now or Learn more in our review	Learn how to apply or Learn more in our review

When to go with the Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve might be the better option if:

You want to maximize your earning potential
You prefer Chase transfer partners

Higher earning potential

One of my main qualms with The Platinum Card is its earning potential. Cardholders earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®. You earn 1X on all other eligible purchases. Unless you spend significant money on hotels and flights each year, your earning potential leaves a lot to be desired.

On the other hand, the Sapphire Reserve offers a tiered earning structure. Cardholders earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠ (including The Edit℠), 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct, 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases. If you frequently travel or go out to eat, the Sapphire Reserve is the better option.

Chase transfer partners

Both cards allow you to transfer your points to various hotel and airline transfer partners. Although American Express has 21 transfer partners compared to Chase's 14, you might still prefer Chase's roundup. Chase has four unique transfer partners from American Express: Southwest, United, IHG, and World of Hyatt. If you fly with those airlines or stay at those hotels, you'll likely want to go with the Sapphire Reserve.

Apply now | Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve in our review

When to go with The Platinum Card by American Express

You might be better off with The Platinum Card by American Express if:

You can maximize the statement credits
You want elite status with hotels and car rentals
You prefer American Express transfer partners

Statement credits

Although both cards provide statement credits, The Platinum Card wins as long as you know how to redeem them. Here are the statement credits you can take advantage of as a Platinum Card holder:

Up to $200 annually in hotel credits
Up to $240 annually in digital entertainment credits
Up to $155 annually in Walmart+ credits
Up to $200 annually in Uber Cash (Terms apply)
Up to $200 annually in airline fee credits
Up to $100 annually in Saks Fifth Avenue credits
Up to $199 annually in a CLEAR® Plus membership credits
Up to $85 for TSA PreCheck or up to $120 for Global Entry application fees
Up to $300 annually in statement credits for an Equinox digital or club membership

In total, you're completely covering your annual fee and then some if you maximize each and every credit. However, it takes a lot of planning and effort to do so. Many of the credits are doled out monthly, so you aren't getting that credit back if you miss a month. Most require enrollment and can be challenging to use. For instance, while the airline incidental fee credit is great, you have to select one airline to which this credit applies. If you select Delta Air Lines and then pay for a checked bag later in the year on American, you won't be reimbursed.

Similarly, these credits might be for merchants where you don't typically shop. So, if you don't shop at Walmart and Saks Fifth Avenue, subscribe to a digital entertainment service, or go to Equinox, you won't use a considerable percentage of your cardholder benefits. This is the primary reason why I haven't applied for The Platinum Card.

That said, the Chase Sapphire Reserve's credits are also very strong, including:

Up to $300 in annual travel credits
Up to $500 credit for stays with The Edit (up to $250 in statement credits from January through June, and again from July through December for a maximum of $500 annually for prepaid bookings made with The Edit. Two-night minimum. Purchases that qualify will not earn points.)
Up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables
Complimentary Apple TV+ through June 22, 2027
Complimentary DashPass membership (Activate by December 31, 2027)
Up to $10 in monthly in-app credits for Lyft through September 30, 2027
Up to $300 in annual statement credits on StubHub and viagogo (up to $150 in statement credits from January 1 through June 30, and again from July 1 through December 31, Activation required)

The Amex Platinum may still have the edge by a smidge, but the best card will really come down to which best fits your spending habits.

Luxury perks

As one of the most luxurious cards on the market, The Platinum Card is also the better choice for anyone looking for luxury perks. Cardholders receive automatic Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, Gold Status with Hilton Honors, and car rental privileges with Avis, Hertz, and National. The Sapphire Reserve offers VIP amenities with Avis, Hertz, National, and Audi on Demand. It also offers IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite status, but only after spending $75,000 in a calendar year.

American Express transfer partners

As I mentioned above, American Express has several transfer partners that Chase cardholders don't have access to, including:

Hilton
Choice Privileges
Aeromexico
ANA
Avianca
Cathay Pacific
Delta
Etihad
Hawaiian
Qantas
Qatar

If you wish to transfer your points to any of these airlines or hotels, you're better off with The Platinum Card.

Learn how to apply | Learn more about the Amex Platinum in our review

A closer look at the welcome bonuses

New cardholders of the Sapphire Reserve can earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. If you redeem for travel purchases through Chase Travel, that's worth up to $2,500.

New cardholders of The Platinum Card can earn as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 6 months (welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer; apply and find out your offer).

With both cards, you can get outsized value from your points by transferring to a hotel or airline transfer partner. So, you'll likely want as many points as possible to maximize transfer opportunities.

FAQs

Does it make sense to have both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Platinum?

If you can get enough benefits from both cards to offset their annual fees and want to maximize your earning potential and perks, it could make a lot of sense to have both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Platinum.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns bonus rewards on broad categories of dining, but the Amex Platinum offers additional airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with loyalty programs like Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. You would certainly be paying a premium in annual fees, but if you're utilizing the benefits, you could get substantially more value.

Is the Amex Platinum prestigious?

The Amex Platinum is among the most prestigious credit cards available because of its premium travel perks. It's also one of the most expensive cards to hold, making it rare to see one in the wild.

Bottom line

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a strong choice, with an annual travel credit that is extremely easy to use, and getting access to a large number of airport lounges is advantageous to any traveler. However, if you think you can utilize each statement credit offered by The Amex Platinum Card, it would be worthwhile to apply. As with any financial decision, weigh the benefits against your spending habits and financial and travel goals before applying.

Luxury Travel Benefits

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

4.9

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

Learn How to Apply

See rates and fees | Terms Apply

Current Offer

Earn as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 6 months (welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer; apply and find out your offer)

Annual Fee

$695

Rewards Rate

5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Card Details

Premium Travel Benefits